FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota State's Jenni Fassbender recorded a double-double and the Bison (11-6, 2-2 SL) beat the Coyotes (6-10, 0-3 SL) 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-23 Friday night at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
Fassbender led the Bison with 18 kills and 16 digs while Emily Minnick added 14 kills. Brianna Rasmusson kept the offense going with 40 assists.
Junior
Audrey Reeg led the Coyotes with a double-double and had 20 kills and 16 digs. Sophomore setter
Brittany Jessen fueled the offense with a match-high 56 assists and freshman
Lauren Mattison protected the backline with 24 digs. Freshman
Kristina Susak had three kills which were the first of her collegiate career.
"This match showed us just how good our offense can be," said South Dakota head coach
Leanne Williamson. "This match should build our confidence moving forward through conference play. "
In set one, the Coyotes jumped out to an 8-1 lead with kills by Reeg, junior
Kelsey Biltoft, freshman
Hayley Dotseth and a service ace from Jessen. Later in the set, up 15-11 the Coyotes got three straight kills from sophomore
Kelly Law, junior
Lindsey Brown and Reeg as the Coyotes went on to win.
The Bison bounced back in sets two and three. The teams were tied up nine times throughout set two and were tied at 19 before the Bison went on a 6-2 run to close out the game. North Dakota State came alive in the third set and started the game with a 10-3 run. Later in the set the Bison scored five straight and never looked back and took a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set four was very competitive and the Coyotes fought hard. South Dakota was down 21-15 but scored six straight to tie the game. Reeg had three kills and Brown and freshman
Kristina Susak added one apiece during the stretch. A service ace from the Coyotes killed the momentum as the Bison went on to win set four and the match 3-1.
"We will be challenged again on Sunday," said Williamson. "We will continue to work through adversity and find a way to come out on top."
South Dakota is back in action on Sunday as the Coyotes travel to Colorado and play Denver at 2 p.m.
